CBS correspondent Steve Kroft presented his final report for “60 Minutes” Sunday night after 30 seasons with the broadcast news magazine.
Kroft, 73, filed nearly 500 stories for the CBS program. On Sunday, he revealed that he mulled retirement in recent years before officially declaring an end to his Emmy award-winning career.
{mosads}“It’s been a difficult decision, one that I’ve considered after each of the past four seasons,” Kroft said. “Now feels like the right time. There are still some things I’d like to do that I haven’t done.”
“I haven’t gotten any younger,” he added. “I want to leave while I still have all of my marbles, the energy to enjoy life and the curiosity to explore some different things.”
Kroft’s November 2008 sit-down with then-President-elect Obama, which drew more than 25 million viewers, remains the most-watched “60 Minutes” episode since 1998. Kroft interviewed Obama 11 times during his presidency.
Bill Owens, the show’s executive producer, said in a statement that Kroft’s reporting for the show “has been as important as any correspondent’s in the history of this broadcast.”
“Steve, with his sharp eye for detail, rich writing and demanding journalism, has set the bar at ’60 Minutes’ for three decades,” Owens said.
Kroft was the longest-serving correspondent on the Sunday evening program’s staff.
“60 Minutes” continues to be one of the top-rated programs on television, finishing in the Top 10 21 times this season. The show has been on the air since 1968.